74th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2007 Regular Session
NOTE: Matter within { + braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within { - braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
{ + braces and plus signs + } .
LC 900
A-Engrossed
House Bill 2073
Ordered by the House February 14
Including House Amendments dated February 14
Ordered printed by the Speaker pursuant to House Rule 12.00A (5).
Presession filed (at the request of Governor Theodore R.
Kulongoski for Housing and Community Services Department)
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure.
Establishes official name for interagency coordinating council
dealing with hunger and homelessness. Expands council membership.
Modifies council duties.
Revises legislative findings and policy regarding hunger.
Modifies legislative declaration regarding initiation, promotion
and development of activities and programs.
Changes size and composition of Hunger Relief Task Force.
Transfers Hunger Relief Account appropriation from Hunger Relief
Task Force to Housing and Community Services Department.
Directs Housing and Community Services Department to provide
staffing and support for Interagency Council on Hunger and
Homelessness and for Hunger Relief Task Force.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to the coordination of social service efforts; creating
new provisions; amending ORS 458.525, 458.530, 458.532 and
458.545; and appropriating money.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. ORS 458.525 is amended to read:
458.525. (1) The Housing and Community Services Department
shall serve as the lead { - agency to coordinate state efforts
in meeting the problem of hunger. - } { + public body on hunger
and homelessness issues.
(2) The Interagency Council on Hunger and Homelessness is
established. + } The Director of the Housing and Community
Services Department shall { - establish an interagency
coordinating council consisting of representatives of the Housing
and Community Services Department, the Department of Corrections,
the Economic and Community Development Department, the State
Commission on Children and Families, the Department of Education,
the State Department of Agriculture and the Department of Human
Services. - } { + chair the council. In addition to the
director, the council shall consist of 15 members as follows:
(a) One member representing each of the following:
(A) The Housing and Community Services Department.
(B) The Department of Corrections.
(C) The Economic and Community Development Department.
(D) The State Commission on Children and Families.
(E) The Department of Education.
(F) The State Department of Agriculture.
(G) The Employment Department.
(H) The Department of Veterans' Affairs.
(I) The Department of Transportation.
(J) The Oregon Youth Authority.
(K) The Department of Community Colleges and Workforce
Development.
(L) The Department of Justice.
(b) Three members representing the Department of Human
Services. Of the three members representing that department:
(A) One shall have expertise on issues affecting services to
adults and families.
(B) One shall have expertise on issues affecting health
services.
(C) One shall have expertise on issues affecting services to
seniors and to persons with disabilities. + }
{ - (2) The administrative heads of the agencies listed in
subsection (1) of this section shall serve on the council or
shall designate an agency representative - }
{ + (3) Each council member must be the administrative head
of the listed agency or an employee of that agency who is
designated by the administrative head and + }who has an agency
policy-making role affecting hunger, food programs, nutrition
{ - and related areas - } { + , homelessness or related
issues + }.
{ - (3) The council shall be responsible for: - }
{ - (a) Implementing recommendations of the Hunger Relief
Task Force; - }
{ - (b) Ensuring that food and nutrition programs operate
efficiently and effectively; - }
{ - (c) Monitoring federal programs; - }
{ - (d) Encouraging coordination of state and local programs
and of public and private organizations engaged in food
distribution programs; and - }
{ - (e) Making recommendations to affected agencies and
programs. - }
{ + (4) The Hunger Relief Task Force shall adopt
recommendations and proposals as the task force deems
appropriate. The council shall be responsible for receiving the
recommendations and proposals adopted by the task force and the
recommendations of any state body relating to the issue of
homelessness, and for forwarding the recommendations and
proposals to state agencies or other public or private
organizations for action that the council deems appropriate:
(a) To ensure the coordination of state agency hunger relief
efforts and homelessness relief efforts;
(b) To ensure that food and nutrition programs, other hunger
relief efforts and homelessness relief efforts operate
efficiently and effectively;
(c) To monitor the utilization of federal hunger relief efforts
and homelessness relief efforts and provide outreach to expand
underutilized programs; and
(d) To encourage the coordination of state and local programs,
public and private antipoverty programs affecting food
distribution and programs for assisting the homeless. + }
{ - (4) - } { + (5) + } The Director of the Housing and
Community Services Department { + , in collaboration with the
Director of Human Services, + } shall convene council meetings at
least quarterly.
{ + (6) The Director of the Housing and Community Services
Department shall provide the council with staff support the
director deems appropriate, by using Housing and Community
Services Department employees or by contract. The director shall
also provide the council with supplies as the director deems
appropriate. + }
SECTION 2. ORS 458.530 is amended to read:
458.530. (1) The Legislative Assembly finds and declares that
it is the policy of this state that:
(a) Hunger is defined as the state of being unable to obtain a
nutritionally adequate diet from nonemergency food channels.
Hunger is not one discrete event. Hunger is a series of events
that lead up to and follow a lack of adequate food intake. It is
the process in which people become at risk of hunger, attempt to
cope with the problem and suffer a variety of health and social
consequences.
(b) All persons have the right to be free from hunger.
(c) Freedom from hunger means all persons have food security
{ - , that is, the means to obtain a nutritionally adequate diet
through conventional food sources at all times - } . { + Persons
lack food security if they are uncertain of having, or being able
to acquire in socially acceptable ways, enough acceptable food at
all times to meet basic needs because they have insufficient
money or other resources for food. + }
{ - (d) All persons in Oregon have food security by the year
2000. - }
{ + (d) Oregon will rank among the top 10 states in providing
food security without hunger by 2015. + }
(2) The Legislative Assembly declares that the policy of this
state is to provide and encourage activities and programs
necessary to fulfill the commitment stated in subsection (1) of
this section and that the purpose of policies stated in this
section is to provide a guide for the establishment,
implementation and operation of activities and programs designed
to alleviate or eradicate hunger in this state. It further
declares that the activities and programs shall be initiated,
promoted and developed through:
(a) Volunteers and volunteer groups;
(b) Public and private not-for-profit organizations;
(c) Partnership with local governmental agencies;
(d) Coordinated efforts of state agencies;
(e) Coordination and cooperation with federal programs;
(f) Partnership with private health and social service
agencies; and
(g) { - A designated state agency that will encourage and
work with the hungry and organizations working with the hungry,
that will coordinate state, local and private programs, that will
encourage and monitor federal programs and that will act as an
advocate for the hungry in Oregon. - } { + The Interagency
Council on Hunger and Homelessness, the Hunger Relief Task Force
and other state bodies created to address the issue of
homelessness. + }
SECTION 3. ORS 458.532 is amended to read:
458.532. (1) The Hunger Relief Task Force is established in the
Housing and Community Services Department. The task force shall
consist of { - 24 - } { + not more than 28 + } members
appointed as follows:
{ - (a) Two Senators, one each appointed by the President of
the Senate and the Minority Leader of the Senate; - }
{ - (b) Two Representatives, one each appointed by the
Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Minority Leader
of the House of Representatives; and - }
{ + (a) The President of the Senate shall appoint one member
from among members of the Senate.
(b) The Senate Minority Leader shall appoint one member from
among members of the Senate.
(c) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint
one member from among members of the House of Representatives.
(d) The House Minority Leader shall appoint one member from
among members of the House of Representatives. + }
{ - (c) - } { + (e) + } The Director of the Housing and
Community Services Department { + , with the advice of the
Director of Human Services, + } shall appoint { - one member,
unless otherwise indicated, from each of - } the following:
{ - (A) The Department of Education Child Nutrition
Program; - }
{ - (B) The Department of Human Services Food Stamp
Program; - }
{ - (C) The Department of Human Services Women, Infants and
Children (WIC) Program; - }
{ - (D) The State Department of Agriculture; - }
{ - (E) Oregon Food Bank; - }
{ - (F) United Way of the Columbia-Willamette; - }
{ - (G) The Human Rights Coalition; - }
{ - (H) A student from an institution of higher
education; - }
{ - (I) The Community Action Directors of Oregon; - }
{ - (J) The retail food industry; - }
{ - (K) The grower and processor food industry; - }
{ - (L) A direct service provider; - }
{ - (M) The Association of Oregon Counties; - }
{ - (N) The migrant community; - }
{ + (A) One member representing the Department of Education
who has experience in child nutrition programs.
(B) One member representing the Department of Human Services
who has experience in food stamp programs.
(C) One member representing the Department of Human Services
who has experience in the Women, Infants and Children program.
(D) One member representing the State Department of
Agriculture.
(E) One member representing a statewide food bank.
(F) One member representing United Way of America or a
successor organization.
(G) One member representing an Oregon low-income advocacy
group.
(H) One member who is a student at an institution of higher
education.
(I) One member representing the Community Action Directors of
Oregon.
(J) One member representing the food retailing industry.
(K) One member representing the food growing and processing
industries.
(L) One member who is a direct service provider.
(M) One member representing county government.
(N) One member representing the migrant community. + }
(O) Three members { - from - } { + representing + } the
religious community { + . + } { - ; and - }
{ + (P) One member representing the Housing and Community
Services Department. + }
{ - (P) - } { + (Q) + } No more than six additional
{ - persons - } { + members having qualifications other than
those of members described in subparagraphs (A) to (P) of this
paragraph + }.
{ - (2) Of the members described in subsection (1)(c) of this
section, at least one member shall be a member of a minority
ethnic group and at least two members shall be representatives of
rural areas and areas of eastern Oregon. - }
{ - (3) - } { + (2) + } A member serves for a three-year
term. A member may be reappointed.
{ - (4) - } { + (3) + } If there is a vacancy for any
cause, the appointing authority shall make an appointment to
become immediately effective for the unexpired term. The
appointing authority may appoint a replacement for any member of
the task force who misses more than two consecutive meetings of
the task force.
{ - (5) The task force shall select one member as chairperson
and one member as vice chairperson, for such terms and with
duties and powers as the task force determines necessary for the
performance of the functions of such offices. - }
{ - (6) - } { + (4) + } { - Twelve members shall
constitute - } { + One-half of the task force membership
constitutes + } a quorum for the transaction of business.
{ - (7) The task force shall meet at least once each month at
a place, day and hour determined by the task force. The task
force also shall meet at other times and places specified by the
call of the chairperson or of a majority of the members of the
task force. - }
{ - (8) The task force may appoint a director to serve at the
pleasure of the task force and with duties determined by the task
force. - }
{ - (9) In addition to other funds made available for the
work of the task force, the task force may accept gifts and
grants from public and private sources to be used to carry out
the purposes for which the task force exists and to alleviate
hunger in the state. - }
{ - (10) The moneys received under subsection (9) of this
section shall be deposited in a special account, separate and
distinct from the General Fund, to be named the Hunger Relief
Account which account is established. All moneys in the account
and all earnings thereon are continuously appropriated to the
Hunger Relief Task Force to be used together with any federal
funds that may be available to carry out the work of the task
force and to alleviate hunger in the state. - }
{ + (5) The Director of the Housing and Community Services
Department shall provide the task force with staff support the
director deems appropriate, by using Housing and Community
Services Department employees or by contract. The director shall
also provide for the payment of appropriate task force operating
expenses. + }
SECTION 4. { + Nothing in the amendments to ORS 458.532 by
section 3 of this 2007 Act affects the term of office of any
member of the Hunger Relief Task Force appointed prior to and
serving on the effective date of this 2007 Act. However, as
vacancies occur, replacement appointments shall be made in
accordance with the qualifications specified in ORS 458.532, as
amended by section 3 of this 2007 Act. + }
SECTION 5. { + Section 6 of this 2007 Act is added to and made
a part of ORS 458.530 to 458.545. + }
SECTION 6. { + (1) The Hunger Relief Account is established in
the State Treasury separate and distinct from the General Fund.
Interest earned by the account shall be credited to the account.
(2) Moneys in the account are continuously appropriated to the
Housing and Community Services Department to carry out the
purposes of ORS 458.530 to 458.545.
(3) The department may apply for and accept gifts, grants and
donations for deposit to the account. + }
SECTION 7. { + (1) The Hunger Relief Account established by
section 6 of this 2007 Act is a continuation of the Hunger Relief
Account established by ORS 458.532 as set forth in the 2005
Edition of Oregon Revised Statutes. The unexpended balance of the
Hunger Relief Account existing on the effective date of this 2007
Act shall continue to be credited to the account and is available
for expenditure by the Housing and Community Services Department
as described in section 6 of this 2007 Act.
(2) Notwithstanding section 6 of this 2007 Act, any liability,
debt or obligation of the Hunger Relief Task Force legally
incurred prior to the effective date of section 6 of this 2007
Act and the amendments to ORS 458.532 by section 3 of this 2007
Act shall be a liability, debt or obligation of the Housing and
Community Services Department payable from the Hunger Relief
Account. + }
SECTION 8. ORS 458.545 is amended to read:
458.545. The Hunger Relief Task Force shall:
{ - (1) Function as the designated state unit on hunger. - }
{ - (2) - } { + (1) + } Serve within government and in the
state at large as an advocate for hungry persons.
{ - (3) - } { + (2) + } Participate in coordinating the
effective and efficient provision of services to hungry citizens
so that the services will be readily available to the greatest
number over the widest geographic area; assure that information
on these services is available in each locality, utilizing
whenever possible existing information services; and assure that
each new service receives maximum publicity at the time it is
initiated.
{ - (4) - } { + (3) + } Have authority to study programs
and budgets of
{ - all public agencies and those private agencies willing to
cooperate which - } { + those public bodies or private entities
willing to cooperate, and all state agencies, that + }provide
services { + or funding + } directed at the alleviation or
eradication of hunger.
{ - After such study, the task force shall make recommendations
to - }
{ + (4) Have authority to study any concepts regarding the
alleviation or eradication of hunger within this state.
(5) Make any recommendations or proposals the task force deems
appropriate to the Interagency Council on Hunger and
Homelessness, + }the Governor, { + the + } Legislative Assembly
{ - and the agencies involved - } { + or others + }. Such
recommendations shall be designed to provide coordination of
programs for hungry persons, to avoid unnecessary duplication in
provision of services, to point out gaps in provision of services
and to recommend ways of filling gaps in services. The task force
also shall recommend development of a comprehensive plan for
delivery of services to hungry persons. In carrying out these
tasks, the task force shall coordinate its efforts with other
advisory groups or entities with similar or related
responsibilities to avoid duplication of effort.
{ - (5) - } { + (6) + } Encourage, by expansion of existing
activities and programs for the hungry, by school programs, by
meals-on-wheels, by counseling or by other means, public and
private development of nutrition programs for hungry citizens
that prevent or minimize hunger and illness which is related to
hunger or nutritional deficiencies.
{ - (6) - } { + (7) + } Conduct research and other
appropriate activities to determine:
(a) The dimensions of hunger in the state;
(b) The availability and accessibility of emergency food in all
areas of the state;
(c) The opportunities for public and private partnerships in
the areas of food and nutrition;
(d) The participation rates of eligible persons in all federal
food programs, especially food stamps;
(e) The identification of persons needing food and nutrition
services who are not eligible under existing programs;
(f) Barriers to the participation of eligible persons in food
and nutrition programs; and
(g) The impact of economic changes on food and nutrition
programs.
{ - (7) Develop specific proposals and recommendations for
action for presentation to the Governor and the Legislative
Assembly. - }
(8) Prepare and disseminate an annual report on the status of
hunger in the state, efforts being made to alleviate and
eradicate hunger, and proposals and recommendations for
strengthening progress toward the eradication of hunger.
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